$59.95

1971 Plymouth Road Runner Chase Car 1:18[39397]

1971 Plymouth Road Runner 1:18 scale diecast car in Tor Red with a black interior and black stripes from Ertl American Muscle car series. The seats in this chase car have red inserts which make it the chase version. This model car features opening hood, trunk, and doors as well as road runner badging, opening air grabber, movable steering, folding seats, a 440-6, rallye wheels and white letter tires.

From Ertl: In 1968, Plymouth decided that muscle cars had strayed too far from their original purpose: cheap (and very fast) thrills. The Plymouth paid $50,000 to Warner Brothers to affix a cartoon bird image onto its new vehicle, which was based on a stripped Belvedere pillared coupe body, and the Road Runner was born. The Road Runner was light and featured few amenities. This not only drove the price of the vehicle into territory that most could afford, but it gave an advantage over heavier vehicles. Most of the options available favored speed and acceleration Along with the image, the horn went 'beep-beep'.

1971 saw the beginning of the end of the era of muscle cars. In just its fourth year, the Road Runner saw its performance engines fall victim to tightening government regulations on emissions, fuel prices and insurance costs. The standard 383cid power plant dropped 35 hp while the 440 engines both lost 5 hp. he wheelbase of the vehicle decreased from 116 inches to 115. The 426 Hemi stayed fast at 425 hp. This would be the last year for the Hemi as it too would fall victim to the increased standards. Both the 2 Door Pillared Coupe and the Convertible body styles were dropped, leaving only the 2 Door Hardtop as the sole offering. A little over 14,000 Roadrunners were sold in 1971.